Stortime Saturday: Franklin’s Emporium

Storytime Saturday a weekly blog feature showcasing any new books we’ve been reading with Erin, reviewing picture books and talking about our monthly library haul! Basically, Storytime Saturday is all about books! This week I’m talking about Franklin’s Emporium: The White Laced Gloves by Gill Vickery.

Welcome to Franklin’s Emporium – the department store where there’s magic on every floor!

When Alex is sent to Golden Bay for the summer she just wants be left in peace to read her books. Unfortunately, her cousin Maisie has other ideas and makes Alex go shopping for some white lace gloves. And when you are shopping at Franklin’s, what you end up buying isn’t quite what you expected! 
Franklins Emporium

 With his mum and dad away on a second honeymoon, Alex is sent to stay with family in Golden Bay. The setting and basic plot made way for so many interesting and fun characters. Alex and his cousin Maisie really don’t get on very well so there is a lot of banter and tension between them. I loved seeing the family members bicker because that is exactly what families do!

One of the best things, I think, about children’s books is the adventure and the excitement. Franklin’s Emporium has both of those things!  It also has magic so what could be bad about this book? Absolutely nothing if I’m honest. Franklin’s Emporium (the shop, not the book) is like an Aladin’s Cave of wonder and amazement. Things happen in there and they’re not the norm for any kind of shop. Strange things happen and these are the base for the story. Alex’s experience with Franklin’s Emporium is exactly what the book is about and I loved it!

I absolutely love the illustrations in this book. Each picture takes up a whole page. Normally I would say this was too much, but not with this book. The illustrations really add something extra to this book and make it more enjoyable to read. Seeing the different characters, Alex’s facial expressions being so clear and seeing Maisie’s reactions. was fantastic. It really added to the characters. Young readers will really enjoy this aspect of the book.

 The short paragraphs, along with the large illustrations, help young readers progress. The short paragraphs will keep a child’s attention. I think this book is perfect for both of those things.  Erin is too young for this book at the moment. However, reading it was fun and I personally liked the story.

Release date: 5th May 2016

Publisher: Bloomsbury

Paperback – 9781472918031

E-Book – 9781472918048

Disclaimer: I received this book in exchange for an honest review. 

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